The Dutch onion season has entered its final phase. "It's an exciting market, with more onions than everyone expected. Some batches changed hands three or four times," says Tjerk Nagel of the Dutch onion grading and packing facility Konaxx. "The high prices mean there's currently minimal demand, mainly from Europe, with the random overseas order. Prices have been under slight pressure over the last week and are now between €0.65 and €0.70, though I feel we've reached the bottom again for a while."
"But let's face it: a market like this demands gutsy traders. There's an awful lot of money involved. That makes it extraordinarily risky. We're not afraid of that, but it does require a different management method. For example, the Egyptian onions had many quality problems, which caused plenty of money to be lost. Those arriving now should have better quality, but I hear a lot of varying reports about that," Tjerk explains.
Konaxx's optical sorter is running well. "Customers are starting to genuinely appreciate it, too." Looking ahead to the new season, based on current prices, there's definitely a chance of expansion, says Tjerk. "Most of the sowing's been done the south [of the Netherlands], but growers in the north still have to start."
"That doesn't worry me," he adds. "Nature's so good at righting itself, those differences won't even be evident by September. And what the coming season will be like is still pure conjecture. I'm sure things will go well with the early planting, but otherwise, we'll just have to wait and see," Tjerk concludes.
For more information:
Tjerk Nagel
Konaxx Onions
32 Kadal
9079 KW, Sint Jacobiparochie, NL
Tel: +31 (0) 518 491 255
Email: info@konaxx.nl
Website: www.konaxx.nl